Electrically operated key-changing harp mechanism



Nov. 12, 1957 A. L. CARRON ELECTRICALLY OPERATED KEY-CHANGING HARP MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. '13, 1953 ,AZZ. 607 7 07;

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Nov. 12, 1957 A. CARRON 2,312,681

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED KEY-CHANGING HARP MECHANISM Filed NOV. 13, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 4 I BY 1' I "I ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 12, 1957 A. L. CARRON 2,812,631

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED KEY-CHANGING HARP MECHANISM Filed Nov. 13, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 12.17. Cayman L J INVENTOR I I BY I l I I ATTORNEYS United States Patent ELECTRICALLY OPERATED KEY-CHANGING HARP MECHANISM Arthur L. Carron, Geneva, N. Y. Application November 13, 1953, Serial No. 391,918 2 Claims. (Cl'. 84-266) This invention relates to a harp and has its particular application in a means for electrically controlling the tuning of the strings of said harp.

A further object of the invention is the provision of solenoid means for instantly changing the pitch by shortening the vibrating length of the strings of the instrument.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the operation of a harp may be accomplished by electrical means in lieu of the conventional foot pedals and multiplicity of mechanical elements utilized for this purpose in conventional harp construction, thereby simplifying the operating mechanism and consequently appreciably reducing the cost of the harp, as well as eliminating noise incident to the operation of the foot pedal and numerous mechanical elements of the harp action.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a harp, partially broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view disclosing the solenoid operation and its associated elements.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view disclosing certain parts of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2, the section being taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the mechanism disclosed in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing the electrical circuit of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing certain elements in a different position of adjustment, and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 5 and 6 showing a still further disposition of the elements of the circuit.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of this inventive concept it may be here pointed out that the conventional harp is tuned to a fiat below the normal register of the strings, and adjustment is made to produce a natural tone by certain foot pedals. Conventionally these foot pedals number seven and upon pressing the pedal a peg is turned to atune the string to its proper pitch.

A primary object of the invention is the achievement of change of pitch my means of a solenoid which serves to change the vibrating lengths of the string of a harp in the manner which is customary by use of the conventional foot pedals.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail there is generally indicated at 10 a harp which includes a frame 11, and the customary number of strings 12 which rest on the notched nuts 12'. As previously set forth the strings 12 are normally tuned flat, and are secured to 2,812,681 Patented N v. 12, r9 57 2 tightening pins 13 inset in the frame 11, as best disclosed in Fig. 2. i

In order to change the vibrating lengths of the strings to change the pitch thereof there is provided a first solenoid 15 which is provided a plunger 14, which is adapted to draw the string 12 against a fret. A coiled spring 17 is adapted to replace the solenoid 15 upon re lease of the electrical energy which energizes the solenoid, thereby holding the strings against the fret 16, tuning the strings in the key of C.

A second solenoid 18 is also provided and includes a coiled spring 19 together with a plunger 20 which is adapted to depress the string 12' against a. second and smaller fret 30 for further variation in the tonal pitch of the instrument.

Having reference to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, there is disclosed in Fig. 5 a solenoid 15 as energized which retracts the string 12 against the fret 16, which produces a natural tone over the flatted string. This is accomplished by means of a foot pedal 25 bearing two contacts 26 and when the foot pedal is in normal or flat position no circuit is closed through battery 27 to a ground 28 thus normally retaining the string in retracted position against fret 16 by the deenergization of both solenoids which shorten the vibrating length of the string to provide a natural open tone over the basic fiat tuning of the conventional harp string.

As shown in Fig. 6, depression of pedal 25 to the left energizes solenoid 15 to release string 12 to its flatted position undepressed against any fret.

Depression of pedal 25 to the right as shown in Fig. 7 energizes solenoid 18 and releases solenoid 15 to occasion maximum depression of string 12 against both frets 16 and 30 to provide maximum sharpness of tone.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there is herein provided a harp mechanism which is adapted to be operated in the same manner as the conventional harp, but which is operated electrically by means of a solenoid for the desired fretting of the strings to produce different tones as may be desired.

It will also be seen that there is herein provided a harp which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

While I have shown and described in detail the electrically controlled means as operating a single string of a harp, it is to be understood that a plurality of the solenoids will be wired in many predetermined combinations enabling the harpist to instantly change the tuning from one tuning to another, thereby contributing to the ease in playing accidentals.

As various embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as various modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a stringed musical instrument, the combination of a frame, string fastening means secured thereto, strings secured by said string fastening means, a plurality of fret means secured to said frame adjacent each of said fastening means for one of the ends of each of said strings and underlying each of said strings, plunger-type solenoid operated means mounted in said frame between adjacent pairs of said plurality of fret means, the fret means of each of said plurality of fret means adjacent its associated string fastening means being of such size that the string associated therewith is in constant contact therewith, the remainder of each plurality of fret means being successively smaller to provide a distance between any fret means and its associated string which is increased proportionally with the distance such fret means is positioned from its associated string fastening means, first solenoid operated means including a solenoid, a biasing means and a plunger provided at one end with an arm perpendicular thereto overlying its associated string, whereby activation of said solenoid draws said associated string against the associated adjacent fret means to determine the effective vibratory length of said string to sharpen the tone produced thereby, said biasing means tending to restore said arm to clearingly overlie its associated string upon deactivation of said solenoid, a second plunger-type solenoid Operating means biased to draw theassociated arm to hold said string against the two adjacent fret means whereby activation of said second solenoid releases the arm to clearingly overlie the said string which clearingly overlies the one of said adjacent frets that is farther from the said string fastening means to flatten the tone produced there- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 565,739 Gilman Aug. 11, 1896 1,692,123 Hull Nov. 20, 1928 1,775,462 Hull Sept. 9, 1930 2,459,103 Adair Jan. 11, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Jan. 3, 1935 andour 

